Owe Nothing But Love

Has anybody ever lent you something like a book and told you it would change your life? What usually happens is that it goes to the bottom of my pile of books I am reading or in a pile, I will never read. The problem is that the person will constantly ask me what I think of the book. Then they ask for it back, and I usually can’t find it. It is better to owe nothing but love to people. ‭‭

Romans‬ ‭13:8‬

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”

Things get weird when we borrow from others, especially those who are close to us. There is a cloud hanging over your relationship even if the lender is totally fine with you. Paul encourages us to owe nothing but love. Everything else will bring grief and could cause serious damage. Obviously, there are times where you are in a bind, and someone is willing to help out, but for the most part, you should avoid borrowing anything except your father in laws tools because that is expected and approved by God.

The Light We Need

You can never have enough light in my book—overhead lights, table lamps, and even lights that illuminate the background. I like to see what I am doing. My wife doesn’t agree with me. I will often turn the lights in, and then she will come in and turn half of them off. Not sure we…

Call Upon Jesus

Are you someone who is afraid of the dark? When you have to venture into a place where you cannot see do you call out to those with you? The Psalmist addresses the issues of being lost. He assures us that the Lord is near. All we have to do is to call upon Jesus.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:18-19

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.”

The Lord never leaves your side. You may not sense His presence or feel like He is there, but He is. You don’t realize He is close because you are focused on other things and calling out to other people. God will not interrupt us unless it is essential but patiently waits. The Psalmist tells us that all we need to do is call upon Him, and He will answer. There is one catch. You have to call to Him in truth. That means you sincerely want Him to act in your situation and not just bail you out. God knows your intent.

Renew Your Mind

The mind is one of your strongest muscles. Its learning capacity is untapped. As a human, you have a choice of what you want to put into those memory banks. That can be a challenge living in today’s world, where you are being bombarded with ungodly images. Paul shows you a way to renew your mind and, in the process, transform your life.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

A lot of Christians are more interested in the destiny that God has for them than they do the discipline required to reach that destiny. In verse one of Romans 12, Paul tells us that our greatest form of worship is to be a “living sacrifice.” That means we sacrifice our wants and desires to be a servant to whatever Jesus needs of us. He continues in verse two by telling us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we won’t be conformed to this world.

God is Patient With You

If you were put in your parents’ place and had to raise you, would you be more patient than your parents or less? The answer would probably be less in most cases. That’s because you know your inner-self and what your intentions are. God is patient with you even though he knows your thoughts and motives.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Peter shows you three ways that God is patient with you. First, He knows the best timing to fulfill his promises. While you may think God is slow in working in your life, God sees it as giving you what you need when you need it. Most people act like impatient children and want everything now. God isn’t swayed by our whims but patiently waits until the time is right. Trust Him during this process.

Finding Refuge in the Lord

Touring old castles can give you a picture of God’s love and protection. Those castles have been around for centuries and provided shelter and protection to the multitudes. It endured battles and weathered storms yet remain. That is what David is talking about when he describes the protection God has given him. You can find refuge in the Lord as well when you turn to Jesus in times of trouble.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭144:2

“My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.”

David knew God as his protector. God had protected him as a young boy while he watched the sheep, as a young man while he was fleeing from Saul, and as an old man when he had to flee his son Absalom’s coup attempt. He saw God as his fortress that was steadfast and never wavered. Do you look at the Lord the same way? Do you recognize how God has protected you over your lifetime? When you see how He has been your shield that has delivered you repeatedly, it changes your perspective on life.

Taking a Break

Hey Everyone, This week I am taking a break from writing devotions as I take my summer vacation. I won’t be posting any new devotionals but I want to encourage you to subscribe to my Facebook page or Twitter account where it posts previous devotionals I have written in past years. The links to the…

A Wealth of Knowledge and Wisdom

Have you ever been in the same room with someone who is incredibly smart? How did it make you feel? Were you intimidated by their knowledge or fascinated by what they had to say? Some people feel this way with God. They are either overwhelmed by how great He is or exhilarated with the wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:33

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Paul summarizes the immensity of God in these two statements. The depth of the knowledge and wisdom of God are too deep to plumb, and it is impossible to understand His ways. We don’t need to know the depth of His knowledge. All we need to know is that we will never reach the bottom, and it will never run out. If you ask for the wisdom of God, He will give you a double portion. Think about that for a second. The resources are infinite, and He gives you twice as much as you ask.

Rescued from Temptation

Old habits are hard to break. This is especially true when it comes to bad ones. The same can be said for our sin. We often repeat the same sins over and over again and really don’t have a clue how to break the cycle. Very few people possess the willpower to stop. Peter shows us another way to be rescued from temptation.

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:9

“then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”

In the previous verses leading up to this one, Peter states how God brought judgment on through the flood and on Sodom and Gomorrah, yet he rescued both Noah and Lot. If the Lord rescued them, then He knows how to rescue you from temptation. This is good news for those who struggle with daily temptation. Jesus can preserve you through the trial and strengthen you through the process. The real question then is, “Are you crying out to Jesus in your time of need?”

A Teachable Heart

Teachers have one of the most demanding jobs on the planet. I couldn’t imagine spending the whole day in a classroom with a group of students trying to keep their attention. King David had a teachable heart. He wanted to grow in his knowledge of the Word of God and was always asking to be shown the way. Do you have a teachable heart?

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143:8‬

“Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.”

David wanted to wake up every morning with God on his mind. “Let me hear you lovingkindness in the morning.” It’s like saying, fill my heart with your love for today. He didn’t want to be bogged down with the day’s worries. Instead, he wanted to be lifted high above it all by receiving from the Lord. What a great example. David’s trust was where it should be, and he wanted that to lift his soul.